539 out of 200

yep. I said that right. That would be 539 text messages on a plan that allows for 200 per month. And the month wasn’t even half over.

FavoriteSon and FirstHusband went on a field trip to Washington DC last week and while the students weren’t allowed to talk to each other on their phones, they were allowed to text each other. Just for the fun of it, when they got back, I got online to check FavoriteSon’s usage.

Voice Minutes Used: 8 (and he didn’t even call his mother)
Text Messages: 539

That was February 14th and the billing cycle ends in March.

So after a little family pow wow, I got on the phone and increased his text message to 1,500 for an extra $10 per month. Back dated to include the 539 messages so he won’t have to pay 10 cents for each one over 200.

Because he’s 13. And communicating with his peers. Which he wasn’t really doing so much last year. Before the contact lenses. and the clear skin. and the cool hair. and the team sports. and he’s a good kid, who gets good grades and does his chores. most of the time. and is sweet to his baby sister. some of the time.

Besides. He’s paying for it.

The rules? We’re making them up as we go along, but so far:

1. This rule was instituted the day he got his phone: No phone in the bedroom at night.
2. We get to look at his text messages. If we ask, he allows us. (he can read mine)
3. He promises he will not text anyone anything their parents will need to call us about.
4. No texting during homework or family meals.
5. He doesn’t forward chain texts & tells his friends to stop sending them.
6. He has to check his own minutes and self-regulate.

He is very motivated to keep these rules. He’s eligible for an upgrade.

What teenager cell phone/texting rules have worked for you?

hiccupy tears & Despereaux

Spoiler Alert! Grown-ups and Big Kids Only!

PinkGirl: “maybe” (hiccupy tears)

“there” (hiccupy tears)

“really is” (hiccupy tears)

“a” (hiccupy tears)

“tooth fairy” (hiccupy tears)

“maybe” (hiccupy tears)

“she just came” (hiccupy tears)

“and saw” (hiccupy tears)

“that daddy” (hiccupy tears)

“already left the money” (hiccupy tears)

“and the note” (hiccupy tears)

“and so” (hiccupy tears)

“she didn’t have to do anything” (hiccupy tears)

Mom: “you think?”

PinkGirl: “mmm hmm” (hiccupy tears)

Mom: “Well, how about this . . . next time you lose a tooth, daddy won’t do anything and we’ll see what happens.”

PinkGirl: okay. (hiccupy tears)

Mom: “But you can’t tell any of your friends or any little kids about your doubt, okay?”

PinkGirl: “I would never do that. It would break their heaarrrrrt.” (serious heart breaking full blown crying)

“I wish” (hiccupy tears)

“I could forget” (hiccupy tears)

“I ever asked you.” (hiccupy tears)

“Why didn’t you LIE to me????” (MORE heart breaking full blown crying)

Lots of hugging.

This all took place after she came into my office, turned me around to look at her and said. “Mom. Look me in the eye. Tell me the truth. Are you the tooth fairy? Did you put the money under my pillow? Tell me the truth.“

I honestly told her that I did not put the money under her pillow.

“Mom. Tell me the truth. Are you the tooth fairy?”

“I am NOT the tooth fairy.”

She gives me “the look.”

pause.

“Daddy is.”

Hours later, before bed: “Mom? Is Santa really Santa?“

FIRMLY: YES.

“Is the Easter Bunny really the Easter Bunny?”

STILL FIRMLY: YEP.

“okay.“

I just put her to bed and she’s in there thinking. About Despereaux. She likes to “think for 5 minutes” before she goes to sleep and I decided to help guide those thoughts away from this afternoon’s drama by reading aloud to her tonight. We started reading The Tale of Despereaux. We said prayers and as I kissed her on the head I prompted, “You can dream about Despereaux exploring the castle!”

Tomorrow, she will wake up, put on her school uniform and follow rules all day. Tonight, her imagination takes her to wonderful places.